A Few Days After Geonosis

Coruscant Counter Terrorism Bureau (CCTB) Building

Petra Saggittu wasn't one to question a superior be they from the Order or otherwise at all. But as of now she was severally annoyed with Commander Iri Camus who was place in charge of this operation. She was once a Padawan just recently Knighted and assigned to the Terrorism division of the Intelligence and right now she was surrounded with well...Incompetence. It was clear that Camus's expertise wasn't in terrorism or public relations for that matter. No he seemed content blustering.

The person in charge of the operation was a member of the CSF named Arlingan Zey who looked and acted like he was out of his range. The only one that seemed to know something was ARC Trooper Maze and he had his hands full dealing with the first two. This was just in a matter of a few months of the war starting on Geonosis which the Order was still reeling from so they were trying to get a feel for who was better at what. Clearly Zey's expertise wasn't in a paperwork job so presumably he was being transferred similar to the situation of most of the Jedi being stationed here for now were being assigned to new roles hence the incompetence with Camus and the general confusion.

She seemed to be the rare few that knew their way around the office and actually knew what they were doing. However much to her frustration it wasn't say Master Nico Diath was in charge in fact there was a power struggle going on between him and Camus it would seem since Zey wasn't very good at his work. Much to her frustration she too wasn't even made a field agent for two reasons.

One, she was for all her knowledge and experience still very young and just Knighted which was something that could accept even if she didn't like it. After all it was a true statement. Another which less acceptable to her was because she was Ranat. Now most made the excuse of: "Oh its not specieism but experience." or her favorite "I'm not speciesist but Ranat generally aren't trusted and well..."

All of this boiled into general frustration and slightly un-Jedi like anger. Still she did as best as she could under the circumstances and commiserating with her comrades Knight Knol Ven'nari her cretchmate who also felt stifled with stupidity since she was placed in the area due to her being a Bothan, and presumably untrustworthy as well, and Sian Jeisel a orange skinned Devaronian, shifted under the category of being not intelligent due to her species, whose arms were crossed frowning with annoyance and finally An'ya Kuro a Rutian Twi'lek Jedi who'd been her best friend as well as another good cretchmate who'd been singled as the "hot idiot girl" by the xenophobic officials and therefore ignored when she wasn't being ogled at. So add sexual harassment as well as speciesism.

It seemed that good deal of the workers here were xenophobic or at least the civilians working here were from Jaller Obrim their contact to the police force who was condescending to them to Iri Camus who flat out ignored them or made speciesist comments that he often feebly defended as "a joke".

The only one that wasn't going insane was Knight Jon Antilles who was Master Diath former apprentice was more amused with the proceedings of stupidity but not so much about the xenophobia which he quickly tried to stomp when he found it. Jon Antilles was originally slated to lead a command but his field of expertise laid in investigation and interrogation therefore he was instead assigned here. Meanwhile the rest were in limbo now. Sian was likely going to be sent out into the front while An'ya, Petra and Knol's fate was a bit unknown at this time frame.

Now it would seem that an insubordinate group of soldiers called the Nulls had taken over the severely depleted barracks and were demanding to see their trainer. Now personally she was tempted to recommend Master Fay, a her old Sephi Jedi Master who stationed on Coruscant for now, since she was good at negotiations. However Camus didn't see this since he was too busy blustering and raving about how the Nulls should be placed in stasis which Master Nico a tall tanned human with long black hair and a full mustache was patiently explaining it wasn't truly a thing. The argument had gotten so loud that everyone was able to hear it from the other side of the room.

"Those Nulls need to be put in stasis!" Camus barked as he pointed to barracks being displayed on the holoprojector. "They're too much of a security risk! Just look at what they've done with the barracks!"

"Security risk yes but the Nulls are under Jedi jurisdiction," Master Diath explained for what felt to be the hundredth time. His frustration leaked into the Force making all a bit nervous and on edge. "You can't place them in stasis. Also I'd like to point out again that's not a thing. The suggestion was made by the Kaminoans but ultimately was shot down Grand Master Yoda."

"They fall under the "Living Assets" clause of Republic law therefore..."

"Even "Living Assets" are granted some rights under the laws of the Republic," Nico bit off clearly at the end of his patience. "Also suggesting such an action is antithetical to the Republic conduct and not to mention the Jedi Code. I refuse to allow that to happen and I outrank you in this regard!"

"Good Force are they still going at each other?" Sian whispered as she handed out some caff to the officers as they watched the argument from a distance.

"Yes," Jon huffed as he accepted his caff with a nod of thanks. "By this rate the Supreme Chancellor will have aged out of office before those two come to an agreement."

"I was thinking the heat death of the universe," An'ya sighed her lekku twitching with annoyance. "Great Stars above this is a mess."

"Agreed," Knol said. "I mean something needs to be done."

"Have they made demands yet?"

"Just one," Jon answered Sian brushing his long red hair back from his freckled face. "That a Kal Skirata be brought to them."

"Who?"

"Exactly," Jon replied. "We have no clue who this guy is. Kaim is looking up some information now to see if we can come up with something. Or well anything."

"Hopefully he'll come through because as thoroughly amusing as this is it's not getting anything done," Sian commented.

"We can hope so," Petra sighed. "What I wouldn't give for being able to waltz in..." Her voice trailed off as an idea struck her.

"Petra?" An'ya called her slight worry for her creche-mate drifting in the Force.

"Ah! Sorry I've just had an idea," Petra perked up. "Why don't I and An'ya go in and take out the Nulls? I've got experience with sneaking about and dealing with terrorists because of my former work and An'ya is good with slave rings thanks to her Master at infiltration it's perfect!"

"So you're proposing to sneak into a barracks guarded by six armed soldiers and we take them down without breaking a sweat?" An'ya smirked as her competitive nature came out. She and Petra had a mock contest going on ever since they'd known each other as younglings with Knol often mediating between the two. "You had my curiosity and now you've got my attention."

"What's your proposal?" Jon asked looking at them with an intense gaze. "I'll authorize it if you give me a good plan."

"I'll be your advisor and look up the relevant information as need be," Knol said as she sat down in front of console.

"I was thinking we can cut off the power for barracks," Petra said as the idea began to solidify in her mind's eye. "I and An'ya can sneak in and then we'll systematically take out the Nulls and free the clones from their captivity."

"I can take care of the power," Sian said. "I know a few maintenance workers from my time as Investigator so I can provide you with some back up there."

"Calling up the schematics," Knol announced from her console as the background argument continued to go on unabated. "I can provide you with a map."

"First though, you'll need a strip cam," Sian said as she got up and walked towards inventory. "It would make more sense and we could see what's going on there. And head comlinks so we can be in communication with each other."

"Mind if I join in?" Kaim Amersu a emerald Twi'lek Jedi Knight asked as he walked over. "I'd like to help. All this arguing just frustrating and I want do something instead of calling up a possible terrorist which is what Camus wants to do."

"Run interference," Jon said gesturing to Camus specifically. "Make it like you're a negotiation team. Keep him occupied while we gather the materials for this mission. If anything goes pear-shaped I'll take the fall for you guys."

"Wait what? Oh no Antilles," Sian shook her head as she came back with the equipment. "You are not going indulge in that martyr complex of yours."

"I'm the senior Jedi and I've been a Knight for several years now and I'm technically in charge of all of you," Jon cut her off giving her a reproving look. "I can take the heat but if Petra or An'ya gets caught they're in really deep water since they're the youngest here."

"Ah good I thought you were going to do the whole martyr thing."

"Ow!" An'ya squirmed as Sian roughly placed the headset on her head. "Go easy on my poor lekku will you?"

"Ah sorry," Sian said. "Jon brings out the worst in me."

"Plebeian," Jon scoffed. "I can't help it if you're easily...wait what was that you said about terrorist?"

"Kal of the clan Skirata is wanted as a possible terrorist sympathizer on Mandalore," Kaim said holding out a datapad to Jon who quickly snatched it up and read over. "I'd suggest we really don't contact this guy as a result unless we want to say we're okay with hiring possible terrorist sympathizers which incidentally Camus seems to be fine with."

"Roger that," Knol said a little shocked at the revelation. "In light of that I'd say up the amount of Jedi by one if they're trained by him. Best not to take changes since this will be close quarters and if Mandalore thinks he's a potential threat then we'll treat him as such."

"Don't worry about me and An'ya, we'll be careful," Petra assured them as she made some adjustments to the equipment. "They won't be expecting a small team."

"But you're still green," Jon shook his head. "I trust you two but I don't want to take chances if need be."

"I'll, go with them," Sian offered. "I've got more experience."

"I've got the schematics," Knol said as she passed a datapad to the table. "So who's working on the lights?"

"I shall," Kaim volunteered pulling out his comlink. "Just tell me the block and grid and it'll be down."

"Power block 1026 Grid 02020," Knol said as she looked up the information.

"Very well, I'll get it down then."

"Good, now that we've assembled our team and have the pieces of a plan. I think we're good now," Jon smiled at them. "May the Force be with us all."